The Altar Boys are back with their 3 album and their best up to that point. It is a rockin album with no silly ballads to spoil it. Of interest is the Donna Summer “Unconditional Love” cover. Whoever had this idea nailed it. The song works fantastic in their style. I actually went back to listen to the Donna Summer version and it was actually pretty good too but this version tops all other versions. Strangely the song was originally written by Michael Omartian who I guarantee never imagined a version like this. Probably the best track on the album was You Found Me and it was a staple on most mixed tapes of the period.
Tracklist
1 – You Are Loved – 4:12
2 – G.L.M. (Gut Level Music) – 4:04
3 – I’m Not Talking About Religion – 3:58
4 – I Question It – 2:45
5 – You Found Me – 3:42
6 – Unconditional Love – 3:33
7 – There Is A Love – 4:18
8 – Calling To You – 3:12
9 – Final Hour – 2:56
10 – Life Begins At The Cross – 4:09
Credits
Bass – Ric Alba
Drums – Jeff Crandall
Engineer [Original Release] – Doug Doyle
Executive-Producer – Gregory Hays
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Mike Stand
Producer [Original Release] – Terry Scott Taylor
Producer [Original Release], Engineer [Original Release] – Rob Watson
Remastered By – Keith Sorrells
Captured In Time and Space is the first live album from Petra and the last album to feature Greg X. Volz. It was recorded during three separate performances of the band in Tennessee and South Carolina during their 1985 tour. It doesn’t really seem to support any album release in particular but covers several albums of work. Strangely the release of this album was different between the cassette copy, the CD copy, and the LP version. Just to add to this rather strange way of releasing an album, the UK vinyl version is even different than the U.S. version. Rather an odd way (and poor) to release an album in my opinion. The copy here is a hybrid of the LP and CD copies.
Tracklist
1 – Beat The System – 5:02
2 – Computer Brains – 5:01
3 – Clean – 3:02
4 – Grave Robber – 5:01
5 – Speak To The Sky – 5:17
6 – Hollow Eyes – 6:06
7 – The Rock Medley – 6:11
8 – The Mellow Medley – 5:04
9 – Jesus Loves You/The Race – 4:04
10 – Bob’s Solo – 2:27
11 – Louie’s Solo – 2:05
12 – God Gave Rock And Roll To You – 1:18
13 – The Praise Medley – 8:22
14 – Godpleaser – 5:27
15 – It Is Finished – 8:48
Credits
Artwork [Cover Illustration] – Melvin L. Prueitt
Bass Guitar, Keyboards [Keyboard Bass] – Mark Kelly
Concept By [Cover Concept Consultant] – Randy Rogers
Design, Art Direction – Dave Rogers
Drums [Acoustic Drums], Electronic Drums – Louie Weaver
Edited By – Bret Hurst, Chuck Sugar, Steve Dady
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer [Synth-Guitar] – Bob Hartman
Keyboards – John Lawry
Mastered By – Todd Van Etten
Producer, Recorded By – Jonathan David Brown
Vocals – Greg X. Volz
Companies, etc.
Record Company – Jubilee Communications, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Star Song
Recorded At – Knoxville Civic Coliseum
Recorded At – Memorial Auditorium, Greenville, SC
Recorded At – Township Auditorium
Edited At – Rivendell Recorders
Mastered At – Future Disc
Rob Frazier is extremely well known in the Christian music market. He first appeared on the scene in 1979 on Petra’s album “Washes Whiter Than”. He only did one album with Petra but he caught the attention of Light Records but it took awhile to put out his first solo album. This release was his second solo album and what an album it was. His unique sound is part Mellencamp, part Hooters, and occasionally I can even hear a little David Edwards. But comparisons are unfair. Rob is his own person with his own style and I love it. This album has an excellent down home light rock sound so give it a listen.
Tracklist
1 – It’s The Heart That Matters – 4:48
2 – Hide And Seek – 3:23
3 – Break My Heart – 3:58
4 – This Town – 5:36
5 – It’s Alright To Cry – 4:18
6 – Get Into Motion – 4:18
7 – Army Of Love – 4:23
8 – Starting Over – 3:48
9 – Hey Frankie – 4:22
10 – Where Love Begins – 4:48
Credits
Backing Vocals – Ashley Cleveland, Gary Pigg, Margaret Becker, Marty McCall, Rob Frazier, Shawn Welling, Steven Camp
Design [Graphic Design] – Rhonda Jesson
Drums – Mel Watts, Paul Leim (tracks: A3, B3)
Engineer [Additional] – Bill Heath, John Allman, Ron Brookshire
Engineer [Basic Tracks And Mix Engineered By] – Terry Christian
Guitar – Marty Walsh, Mike Landau*
Keyboards – Smitty Price
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Vocals [Duet] – Barbara Catanzaro (tracks: A3)
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Recorded At – The Sound Factory
Overdubbed At – Bullet Recording
Overdubbed At – Hummingbird Studio, Nashville, TN
Overdubbed At – Soundshop Recording Studios
Overdubbed At – Salty Dog Studios
Mixed At – Salty Dog Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc
I think this was Oden’s last solo album but I can’t be sure as the information avaiulable is not very good. Oden was originally with the band Mustard Seed Faith who had at least one Jesus Music album in 1975. As I said before, the information is scant and I actually believe there was more than that one album. This album from Oden is a great Pop album and though I missed it on the 80’s it is on my MP3 players regular rotation now. The album credits list a Rob Watson on keyboards but I don’t know of it’s the Daniel Amos Rob Watson.
Tracklist
1 – Invisible Man
2 – Joker In The Age Of Fools
3 – Child Of Confusion
4 – Faith/Action
5 – Culture Shock
6 – Waiting For You
7 – Soldier
8 – Words
9 – So Long Ago
10 – Richman Poorman
Credits
Drums – Keith Edwards
Producer, Songwriter, Keyboards, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Drums, Vocals – Oden Fong
Mastered – Bernie Grundman
Vocals – Marie McGilvray
Songwriter – Lewis McVay
Engineer – Chris Taylor
Sax – Shawn Waggoner
Keyboards – Rob Watson
Guitar – John Wickham
What happens when Undercover meets the Altar Boys? The Fourth Watch is what happens. Apparently Bill Walden (Undercover) and Steve Steve Pannier (Altar Boys) were working together from 84 to 87 along with drummer Bill Lawrence, and bass players, Kevin Elling and then Mike Cowden. In 1986 they released this album and what an album it is. It has a decidedly New Wave/Rock sounds that screams 80’s. I hate to do this but there are several tracks that have an intro that has me waiting for Bono vocals to kick in. Too bad this was their only offering as I would have liked to hear more.
Tracklist
1 – Dare To Be The One – 4:39
2 – You Can Change The World – 3:43
3 – Chase Away The Darkness – 4:08
4 – Holy – 4:25
5 – Slipping Thru Your Fingers – 3:22
6 – One Truth – 4:50
7 – I Will Sing – 3:00
8 – On Fire For You – 4:18
9 – Burning Hearts – 5:06
Credits
Backing Vocals – Bill Batstone, Warren Ham
Bass – Kev • X
Drums – Bill Lawrence
Engineer – Gord Driver
Guitar – Steve Pannier
Keyboards – Jeff Lams
Layout – Ed McTaggart
Lead Vocals – Bill Walden
Mixed By – Gord Driver
Percussion – Bill Lawrence
Performer [The Fourth Watch Is] – Bill Lawrence, Bill Walden, Kev • X, Steve Pannier
Producer – Jeff Lams
Written-By – The Fourth Watch
Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Regency Music
Mastered At – Future Disc
I really don’t know where to start with this album. First of all the title track is not even listed on the track listing??? Secondly there is a song with the title of the band name. Right away I knew I was in trouble before even listening to the album. Here we go, the production and engineering are horrible. The band self produced this album and I’m sorry to have to disparage them but there is a reason bands/record labels use producers. This album is the prime example of that. Secondly the engineering/mixing is absolutely pitiful. It really does sound like it was recorded and mixed in a living room. Now let’s talk about the music. There are some songs here that could have worked and I even kind of liked “Stop Killing the Children”. A real producer could have made something out of a few of them but unfortunately that didn’t happen. I really don’t know what Erika Records was thinking when they decided to release this album but a quick look at the album cover should have made them think twice. Oh yea it’s horrible too.
Track Listing:
1 – Stand As One (Unlisted Track)
2 – Satan’s Lies
3 – Living for Eternity
4 – Get Away
5 – Tonight
6 – Satan Leave that Boy Alone
7 – Lies of Men
8 – Holy Right
9 – Stop Killing the Children
Studio Musicians & Other Album Credits:
Produced by Keith Miles
Arranged by Holy Right
Engineered by Doug Recorded at 3-D Studios
Album Designed by Keith Miles & Liz Franco
Artwork by Mark Miles
Photography by Studio B
Lead Guitar – Sean Silas
Rhythm Guitar – Steve Bell
Bass – Randi Davidson
Drums/Percussion – Chris Garrett
Lead Vocals – Keith Miles
Background Vocals – Holy Right
Holy Right Logo by Keith Miles
Road Crew – Todd Canales, Dan Fazio, Ruben Roman, Gilbert Escobaza, Linda Martinez, Alan “A.J.” Davidson & George Haro
Lord Lyall and Urgency were a Nashville band that were well known locally. This EP was their only known recording and it was released in very limited numbers by Lamb Records. The band are good musicians, the vocals are good, the lyrics are good, but the production left a bit to be desired. It’s a fun Pop sound that I would have liked to have heard more of with a better engineer and producer.
Tracklist
1 – Run With Me – 3:24
2 – Standing on His Promises – 3:18
3 – Overcomers – 3:46
4 – This Heart is Occupied – 4:12
5 – Only You – 2:43
6 – Wake Up – 4:27
Credits
Band – Lord Lyall, Norman Sinback, Rose Maihiot, Mark Shipsey
Producers – Chuck Childers & Mark Baldwin
The second offering from Messiah Prophet turned up the quality. They dropped the “Band” from their name for this album and were the first release on the new label “Pure Metal” which was a new Metal oriented subsidiary label of Refuge Music Group. During the recording of the album Dean Pellman left the band and was replaced with bassist Joe Shirk. This was the last album for the band. There was a 1996 release using the band name but none of the members of the original band were in the new band. It was a complicated story as to how that came to be but apparently the whole idea was a disaster so I didn’t bother figuring it out.
Tracklist
1 – Hit And Run – 4:20
2 – Master Of The Metal – 5:01
3 – For Whom Does The Bell Toll – 4:15
4 – Fear No Evil – 6:53
5 – Heavy Metal Thunder – 5:30
6 – The Friend – 3:43
7 – Battle Cry – 6:29
8 – Voice That’s Calling – 7:02
Credits
Art Direction, Layout – Jeff Spencer
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Joe Shirk
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – David Thunder
Engineer – Bill Grabowski, Scott Berger
Executive Producer – Ray Nenow, Raymond Fletcher, Robert W. Spangler Jr.
Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Andy Strauss
Lead Vocals – Charlie Clark
Photography – Terry Wild
Producer, Arranged By – Bill Grabowski
Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Lead Vocals – Brian Nicarry
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Pure Metal Records
Copyright (c) – Pure Metal Records
Copyright (c) – Stone Roller Music
Distributed By – Refuge Music Group
Distributed By – Creative Music Canada
Recorded At – Susquehanna Sound
Mixed At – Susquehanna Sound
Mastered At – Masterdisk
Remastered At – Funkhouser Mastering
This was Tonio K’s 4th solo album and many believe it to be his best. It was his first on What? Records which was an short lived experiment by both A&M Records and Word Records. It has a solid 80’s Pop sound but not the cheesy radio sound. Instead it was original and very well written. The album was packed with talent including, Charlie Sexton, T-Bone Burnett, David Mansfield, and Tim Chandler among others. It had 2 singles, “I Handle Snakes” and “Romeo Loves Jane. Unfortunately neither did overly well on the charts.
Tracklist
1 – True Confessions – 3:40
2 – Perfect World – 4:12
3 – Romeo And Jane – 3:46
4 – You Belong With Me – 4:50
5 – Impressed – 4:24
6 – I Handle Snakes – 3:36
7 – Emotional War Games – 3:53
8 – Living Doll – 3:44
9 – You Don’t Belong Here – 5:51
10 – You Will Go Free – 6:37
Credits
Art Direction, Layout – Tim Alderson
Backing Vocals – Rick Neigher, T-Bone Burnett
Bass – David Miner, Eric Gotthelf, Phil Chen, Rick Neigher, Tim Chandler
Coordinator [Production Coordinator] – Penny Payne
Design Concept [Visual Concepts], Photography By – Linda Myers
Drum Programming – Rick Neigher, T-Bone Burnett
Drums – Burleigh Drummond, Freddy Alwag, Ron Aston
Engineer – Billy Taylor, Joe Chiccarelli, Larold Rebhun, Mark Heard, Nick Van Maarth, Rick Neigher
Engineer [Assistant Engineering] – Carolyn Collins, Joe Borja, Judy Clapp, Peter Doell, Steve Himelfarb
Guitar – Billy Steele, Charlie Sexton, Daryl Caraco, Nick Van Maarth, Peter Banks, Rick Neigher, T-Bone Burnett, Tonio K.
Horns – Little Effort, Phil Kenzie
Management – Gary Heaton Management
Mandocello, Violin – David Mansfield
Mandolin [Mandocello], Violin – David Mansfield
Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
Mixed By – Ed Thacker (tracks: A5, B3, B4), Joe Chiccarelli (tracks: A1 to A4, B1, B2)
Other [Assistant Engineering] – Milton
Other [Cover Girl] – Lisa Taylor
Percussion – Burleigh Drummond, Efrain Toro
Synthesizer – Bob Rose, Dave Aston, David Lewis, Rick Neigher
Technician [Productive Trouble-Shooting] – T-Bone Burnett
Vocals [Featured Vocalist] – Tonio K.
Companies, etc.
Produced For – Vogue Productions (2)
Recorded At – Lawrence Welk’s Champagne Recorders, Hollywood, CA.
Recorded At – Baby’O Recorders
Recorded At – Eldorado Recording Studios
Recorded At – Cherokee Studios
Recorded At – Hitman Studios
Recorded At – Fingerprint Recorders
Recorded At – Redwing Studios
Mixed At – Capitol Studios
Mastered At – Masterdisk
Pressed By – Electrosound Group Midwest, Inc.
Record Company – What? Records
Manufactured By – A&M Records, Inc.
Distributed By – A&M Records, Inc.
This was the one and only album from Sacred Fire. It was released on Star Song records, a sister company to Sparrow records. It is not a well known album and I don’t think sold well. The album has some questionable production which may be why there wasn’t a subsequent album. In reality the songwriting was good and the band were good musicians but in my opinion the album lacked a direction that may have been a result of poor production. That said I enjoyed the album but it is a bit of a mix of styles. Point of trivia, Sacred Fire were the backup band for Leslie Phillips when she opened for Petra on the Beat the System Tour.
Tracklist
1 – Nowhere To Hide – 3:47
2 – Come Out Of The Night – 3:38
3 – Heaven’s Love – 4:18
4 – Hot Fire – 3:36
5 – Waiting For The King – 4:28
6 – Don’t Turn Away – 3:42
7 – Quest Of Faith – 4:25
8 – You Are – 4:07
9 – Second Chance – 3:35
10 – Sacred Fire – 4:42
Credits
Acoustic Guitar – George Small
Backing Vocals – Charles Bass, Cris Bass, Joe Clayton, Joey Powers, Martin Bass, Terry Labolito
Bass Guitar – Richard Price
Drums – Rod Cali
Engineer – Alan Douches
Engineer [Assistant] – Glen Marchese
Guitar – Dean Harrington
Harmonica – Dean Harrington
Keyboards – Roger Lowe
Lead Vocals – Jimmy Bennett
Mastered By – Tom Coyne
Mixed By – Rod O’Brien
Percussion – Bernardo Dippolito, Dean Harrington, Jimmy Bennett, Rod Cali
Performer [Sacred Fire Is] – Dean Harrington, Jimmy Bennett*, Richard Price, Rod Cali, Roger Lowe
Producer – Dean Harrington, Tony Davilio
Synthesizer [Programming] – Dean Harrington, Roger Lowe
Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Grandslam Studios
Mixed At – Grandslam Studios
Mastered At – Frankford/Wayne Recording Labs
